The Author
I would most definitely not ordinarily call myself an author, but it would appear that, reluctantly, I am one. I am one of those people who went through school unable to write anything creative. Poetry, essays and stories alike were anathema to me ... and I dreaded these elements of the English portion of my education.
I do not know where this changed. When I was in university I had to write essays, but these were factual, and did not require creative writing or an imagination. Just knowledge of the facts and an ability to convey them - not a problem. But one day, in late 2004, everything changed. And I still don't understand why or how. The story of this transformation (for want of a better word) is told below, where you can read the poem that I wrote at the time. I can only imagine that it was my determination to rectify a situation that I felt needed correcting that contributed to my creativity.
Nevertheless, my venture into the world of story-writing is just as mystifying. First of all, I got an idea for a story. This was completely out of the blue, and definitely not previously experienced. It's not even as though I was looking for something to write, or bored, or anything. I just woke up one morning - and probably while driving on my way to work, came up with a plot for a story. However, I did nothing about it. I had no desire to write - but I did have this nagging plot idea. A few months later, I was unemployed, and a friend challenged me to write the story to flesh out the plot idea. I initially refused - I am not an author, and don't have any creative writing ability - and then thought ... why not! So it began ... and I was hooked. I couldn't believe the story that was coming out of my imagination, and the sheer enjoyment that I got out of what I was creating inspired me to write even more.
Poetry
This poem was written in late 2004 after watching a show on TV in England that had several celebrities reciting the Nation's favourite Christmas poems. They depressed me so much I set about to rectify the situation - this is the result ..
Year after year, as I look around,
There's more and more lights, tinsel and sound.
People go shopping for presents galore -
'Buy bigger, buy better, than years gone before'.
Sometimes I sit down, wonder and think,
Surrounded by wrappings, bought cards and ink -
'Where'd it all start? What does it mean?
What e'er happened to the spirit unseen?'
What's the meaning of Christmas? I really must ask!
To find out the answer is such a hard task:
From shopkeeper to milkman, newsreader to priest,
Not one of them knows, from West to East.
I seem to remember some stories of old,
Of Santa Claus, reindeer, and elves young and old.
Of Aslan the Lion, and the wicked White Witch,
Or, did I hear right, of Jesus the Christ?
These I have pondered, the old and the new -
Only one, out of all, stands out true -
Of Jesus the Christ, Saviour, Messiah,
The one whose forgiveness all man must desire.
The baby who to Virgin Mary was born
In a warm stable, 'midst the hay and the corn;
The shepherds they came from their flocks with great joy
To worship and honour the Spirit-filled boy.
The Wise Men they came with their gifts from afar -
With gold, myrrh and frankincense, followed the star.
Likewise must we, with one accord,
Bow to our King, our Saviour and Lord.
For it is Christ who gives us the meaning
Of the brief season that has us careening
From shop to shop, and from kitchen to parlour,
Till all is gone from our energy and larder.
STOP! Take stock! Make time to think
Of the reason for all the wrappings, bought cards and ink -
The joy on the faces of those who receive,
And the gift that God gives to all men who believe.
Prose
So far, I have finished writing one novella, Forgotten. It is set on Earth in the far future, and explores what may happen on earth should cryogenetics succeed. Further information on this can be found on Facebook here, and alternatively, on the blog Forgotten Aeons. I am currently in the process of editing the text and resolving any issues.
The follow-on project that I am embarking on is to write a second science-fiction story, also set on Earth, in the present time. This story is based on a dream that I had several years ago, and I am excited to see how it unfolds.